Roundup Rodeo BBQ has officially opened, y’all!

It feels like we have been waiting forever for this new restaurant to open — and now that it is, we HAD to check it out. This rootin’ tootin’ dining location in Disney’s Hollywood Studios is full of fun decor, family-style BBQ fare, and about as much theming as we could hope for — but what are our honest thoughts about it as a whole? Could this be the best new restaurant in Disney World, or did it not live up to the hype? Well, it’s complicated — let’s take a look!

Depending on what is important to you and your family, this could be the best restaurant in Disney World! But, it could also be the worst. Let’s start with the good.

Best Restaurant in Disney World

There’s one thing you can’t argue with — Roundup Rodeo BBQ has MASTERED the theme of this restaurant. From the minute you step foot through the entrance, you really just feel toy-sized. It’s incredible!

The entire place is decked out in Toy Story-themed decor, from the walls to the ceiling and floor.

There is so much to see in this place, it’s a lot to take in. The fun elements are seemingly never-ending.

You will feel fully immersed in this restaurant. But it doesn’t end with just the decor — even the cast members really help sell the experience. On opening day, they had stick ponies for kids to play with.

They even warn “Andy is coming!” when the sound of footsteps surrounds the dining room and they freeze in their spot!

ANDY’S COMING!!! 😱

📍 Roundup Rodeo BBQ pic.twitter.com/pVoBTcZYkf

— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) March 23, 2023

If you love barbecue — you’ll also enjoy the food. Not only is it tasty, but the theming carries throughout the meal as well. The plates are ceramic, but made to look like paper…

…and food and drinks are served in fun dishes, like these classic Coca-Cola glasses and BBQ sauce bottles.

The food is comforting and reminded us of a really good backyard barbecue. With options like Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, Buttercup’s Beef Brisket, and Slinky Doooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese, we were pleased with the food here.

If that is the type of food that you live for, and you love a good theme — this might be the best restaurant in Disney World for you! However, we have to talk about some of the setbacks here. Let’s take a look.

Worst Restaurant in Disney World

While this new restaurant really impressed us in a lot of ways, there are some reasons why this might be a big letdown for some folks. First, the food is delicious, BUT it is pretty simple. If you are used to really good barbecue, the food here might not justify the price for you.

It costs $45 per adult and $25 per child to eat at this family-style location — that’s not cheap for something you could make at your next family get-together!

Second, this is not a character meal. For an expensive meal like this one, especially one situated in the heart of Toy Story Land, many might think they get to meet their favorite Pixar characters!

But while we loved the atmosphere, and the cast members really added a nice touch to the experience, you’re not going to meet Woody or Buzz here.

Another problem you might have with this spot is that Hollywood Studios is busy, and Toy Story Land is no exception. You could have trouble getting a park pass for this park in the first place, and if you do — you’ll have a lot of crowds to face to get here.

This might not be an issue if you were already planning to face the crowds anyway, but snagging this reservation might be tricky.

Lastly, while this food isn’t particularly complicated, there aren’t any meals made specifically for children. Kids might enjoy Slinky Dooooooooooog’s Mac & Cheese or Evil Dr. Smoked Ribs, but you won’t find your basic chicken tenders on this menu.

That’s a lot of money to spend on a meal for the atmosphere, to not have a guaranteed option for those young picky eaters! And pair that with not getting to see any characters at your table — this might be a bit of a letdown for your little ones.

Overall, we really loved this new restaurant. But, depending on what you are looking for, this might not be the best choice for your vacation. If you love barbecue and Toy Story, and you want to feel fully immersed in Toy Story Land — definitely give this spot a try. But, if $45 feels like too much to spend on a restaurant that serves barbecue and doesn’t have characters, regardless of how good the theme is — you might want to skip this one.

With DOZENS of places to eat at Disney World, we know it can be tough to plan your meals. That’s why we wrote the DFB Guide to Dining at Walt Disney World. We have reviews, pictures, and details about every restaurant all in one digital download – along with ALL of our best tips and strategies from decades of Disney World trips. We’ve got a special discount code for DFB readers, too! Use WDW2023 at checkout for 25% off!

Stay tuned to DFB for more!

Click here to see the 2 details that made Roundup Rodeo BBQ STAND OUT in Disney World

Are you excited to try this new restaurant? Let us know in the comments below!